Dates and Venues

Develop the skills to professionally audit a laboratory management system, and objectively assess compliance of laboratories to meet accreditation body requirements, with our CQI and IRCA certified ISO 17025 Lead Auditor training course. (course ID: 1836)

Delegates on this in-depth course will learn how to conduct internal and external quality management systems audits against ISO 17025. They will develop the knowledge and skills to:

  • plan, conduct, report and follow up internal and external audits against ISO 17025, in line with ISO 19011 and ISO 17021 as applicable
  • promote the role of audits within the organisation’s overall management system programme, and the role of auditors in supporting laboratory compliance and competency improvements

This practical, intensive and highly interactive 5-day course is based around a central case study and workshops, enabling students to practise their newly acquired skills.

Delegates will achieve the formal training requirements to allow progression to becoming a CQI and IRCA Registered Lead Auditor. Students are assessed by continuous evaluation and a written exam.

This course is suitable for individuals in organisations interested in operating effective laboratory management systems. They include

  • those seeking to undertake 1st, 2nd and 3rd party audits against ISO 17025
  • laboratory quality and technical managers, technicians and supervisors
  • supplier quality auditors wishing to evaluate laboratory service suppliers
  • existing auditors who wish to expand their skillset to audit a laboratory against ISO 17025

Prior knowledge is valuable for attending this course, and some delegates find it beneficial to first attend our Understanding ISO 17025 training course to gain more knowledge about the ISO 17025 standard. We offer a discount of £100 if booking this course with your Lead Auditor training. Please contact us if you wish to take advantage of this offer.

Click here to learn more about prior knowledge requirements.

The topics covered in this course include:

  • quality and its assurance
  • introduction to auditing
  • ISO 17025 and other ISO standards
  • documented systems
  • audit planning
  • checklists
  • opening meetings
  • nonconformity writing
  • auditing techniques
  • closing meetings
  • audit reporting
  • closing meeting
  • follow up and corrective action
  • 1st, 2nd and 3rd party audits

Modules and workshops feature in an agenda built around the following structure:

  • Day 1
    • WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
    • Quality and its Assurance
    • Audit Overview
    • Quality Management Standards
    • Workshop: Questionnaire on ISO 17025 Requirements
    • LUNCH
    • Quality Management Standards (cont.)
    • Workshop: Audit Situations
    • Documented System
    • Workshop: Quality System Review
    • CLOSE
  • Day 2
    • Quality System Review (Feedback)
    • Audit Planning
    • Workshop: Audit Planning
    • Checklists
    • Workshop: Preparing Checklists
    • LUNCH
    • Opening Meeting
    • Workshop: Opening Meeting
    • Auditing Techniques
    • Case Study 1 – Part 1
    • Workshop: Nonconformity Writing – Part 1
    • Case Study 1 – Part 2
    • Introduction to Examination – Part 1
    • CLOSE
  • Day 3
    • Case Study 1 – Part 2 (Feedback)
    • Auditing Techniques
    • Workshop: Auditing Techniques
    • LUNCH
    • Nonconformity Writing
    • Workshop: Nonconformity Writing – Part 2
    • Case Study 2 – Part 1
    • Case Study 2 – Part 2
    • Introduction to Examination – Part 2
    • CLOSE
  • Day 4
    • Case Study 2 (Feedback)
    • Closing Meetings
    • Reporting
    • Workshop: Closing Meeting
    • LUNCH
    • Follow-up and Corrective Action
    • Review Specimen Exam
    • Workshop: Summary Report
    • CLOSE
  • Day 5
    • First, Second and Third Party Audits: A Perspective
    • Workshop: Corrective Action
    • CQI and IRCA: International Registration Scheme for Auditors of Quality Systems
    • Q&A Session and Introduction to Exam
    • Examination
    • Course Review and Evaluation
    • CLOSE

By the end of this ISO 17025 Lead Auditor training course, delegates will be able to:

  • demonstrate practical audit skills and apply the requirements of ISO 17025 to the specific processes and needs of their organisation
  • assess compliance of their organisation’s testing and calibration laboratory practices to meet the organisation’s own internal or external requirements
  • plan, develop and implement an internal audit process appropriate to the requirements of ISO 17025
  • conduct audits to professional criteria with confidence, gathering objective evidence through observation, interviewing, document trails to provide factual audit reports that will facilitate improvements to the management system
  • achieve the formal training requirements to allow progression to becoming a CQI and IRCA registered Lead Auditor